Curculionirue.] RHYXCHOPHORA. 213 



1 iguous or separate and in the latter case often have the interval between 

 them channelled for the reception of the rostrum ; mesosternnm variable 

 in width with the epimera and episterna differently divided, but not attain- 

 ing the coxae, epimera in some tribes extended into the angle between 

 thorax and elytra and with their extremity visible from above: anterior 

 coxae rounded, sometimes contiguous, sometimes distant; middle coxae 

 rounded, more or less separated ; posterior coxos oval, more or less 

 distant, sometimes placed very far apart (Gronops), occasionally, but not 

 often, attaining the elytral margin ; legs variable, ambulatorial in most 

 species, sometimes natatorial (Litodactylus and Eubrychius), sometimes 

 saltatorial (Orchestes and certain species of Rhinonchus) ; tarsi usually 

 dilated, with the third joint usually dilated and bilobed and spongy beneath, 

 rarely narrow ; claws .either connate or free, simple dentate or appen- 

 diculate, very rarely single (Mononychus) . 



The larvae of the Carcnlioniuae are white or yellowish-white grubs with the head 

 usually darker ; they attack various parts of plants or trees and undergo their trans- 

 formations underground, or in galls formed on their food plants ; some form simple 

 cocoons on the plants, while a few, e.g. Hylobitu, bore galleries in rotten wood and in 

 these change to the perfect insect. 



The tribe as here constituted corresponds to the Curculionides 

 phanerogncithes of Lacordaire with the addition of the genus Sitonea, 

 except that Alophits (and Rhytidoderes in the continental fauna) is 

 transferred to the Brachyrrhininae, and that Apion is separated and formed 

 into a distinct sub-family. As M. Bedel observes (I.e. p. 64) the large 

 number of insects that are comprised in the sub-family and the difficul- 

 ties that they present compel the adoption, in the present state of our 

 knowledge, of an exceptional number of tribes, which must be regarded 

 as merely provisional ; M. Bedel has contributed in very great measure 

 to our knowledge of the group, but much yet remains to be accomplished, 

 and the classification will, in the future, be very greatly modified ; in 

 the present work M. Bedel's tribes are adopted with the addition cf 

 the Smicrony china, which form a transition from the Lixina to the 

 Erirrldnina. 



I. Mandibles inserted side by side on the apex of the rostrum and 



moving vertically BALAXININA. 



II. Mandibles inserted at each side of the rostrum aud moving 

 horizontally. 



i. Anterior tibiae without a regular ridge on the central line of 



their posterior margin. 



1. Tibiae without a curved hook at their apical external angle ; 

 but eiiher with or without such a hook towards their apical 



internal margin. 

 A. Funiculus of antennas composed of six or seven joints. 



a. Posterior coxae reaching to the base of the second ventral 

 segment and dividing the first, which is very short, into 

 three equal parts ; body globose ; intermediate aud pos- 

 terior coxae very widely separated OEOBITIXA. 



b. Posterior coxae not reaching apex of first ventral teg- 

 uient, which is not divided into separate parts. 



